compass plant

Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

n. A perennial herb (Silphium laciniatum) in the composite family, native to prairie regions of the Midwest United States and having radiate yellow flower heads and erect, basal, pinnately divided leaves.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English

n. a plant of the American prairies (Silphium laciniatum), not unlike a small sunflower; rosinweed. Its lower and root leaves are vertical, and on the prairies are disposed to present their edges north and south.